Device for supporting an arcuate surface



Sept. 12, 1967 5 Filed EWING, JR 3,341,164

FIG.6

INVENTOR.

FRED B. EWING, JR.

FIG.7 B

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,341,164 DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING AN ARCUATE SURFACE Fred B. Ewing, Jr., 677 Neck Road, Tiverton, R1. 02878 Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 501,870 2 Claims. (Cl. 248-354) This invention relates to a device for supporting an arcuate surface such as might be utilized as a bilge block for supporting the hull of a ship, yacht, or boat of any hull shape, whether convex or concave.

When a ship, yacht or boat is hauled from the water, some means must be utilized for supporting the vessel in an upright position, and to do this, blocking is usually resorted to, which comprises positioning blocks of a relatively small area at different locations so as to accommodate the shape of the hull of the vessel. Frequently, where a railway is utilized, the cradle upon which such blocks are utilized is hauled from the water after launching one vessel to be reblocked in order to accommodate another vessel and then put back into the water for such hauling. In drydocks the water may have to be pumped out in order that the blocking may be changed, this all being necessary where a precise fitting of the hull shape is desirable as may occur frequently in hauling heavy vessels.

This invention has to do with a device which will accurately and precisely fit a hull of any shape and automatically adjust itself to such hull shape by the pressure of the hull which engages the supporting device.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a supporting device which will fit either a convex or concave hull or surface and precisely fit the same.

Another object of this invention is to provide sufficient flexibility between a fixed point and a plurality of points upon a supporting plate which will permit this plate to adjust to accurately fit most any arcuate shape to be encountered.

Another object of the invention is to provide a supporting shape which will be sufiiciently universal so that reblocking of a cradle for a vessel will be unnecessary.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmental sectional view of the supporting device of this invention engaging a concave surface;

FIG. 2 is a similar view showing the supporting device engaging a convex surface;

FIG. 3 is an elevation of the device itself;

FIG. 4 is a section on line 4-4 and on enlarged scale;

FIG. 5 is an elevation of a modified form of supporting device; and

FIG. 6 is an elevation of a still diiferent modified form of device.

FIG. 7 is an elevation of a modified form of arm.

In proceeding with this invention, I provide a fixed support and mount upon it a bracket which may be pivotally related to the support and then mount upon this bracket, arms which form a plurality of points of engagement with 3,341,164 Patented Sept. 12, 1967 a flexible plate. Thus, when pressure is placed upon the plate, the various points engaging the plate at the ends of the arms usually permit the plate to assume the shape of the surface which it engages and supports it at these plurality of points in a curved position.

With reference to the drawings, more specifically, 10 designates a fixed supporting body upon which a bracket 11 is pivotally mounted as at 12, permitting the same to rock through a considerable range about this pivot 12. At the ends of the bracket 11, there are also pivoted arms 14 and 15 which in turn support a flexible plate 16. This plate 16 has secured to it L-shaped members 17 by means of a portion 18 extending along the plate and a portion 19 extending perpendicular to the plate. The portions 19 are each slotted as at 20 and are connected to the ends of the arms 14 by pins such as bolts 21 and nuts 22 permitting sliding movement to occur, thus permitting the plate 16 to conform to an arcuate surface which may be either concave as shown at 25 on convex as shown at 26 in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In some cases the arm suspension of the plate may be further enlarged by the arrangement such as shown in FIG. 5, where instead of the arm 15, there is an arm 30 at one end of a bracket 11' which in turn has subordinate arms 31 and 32 connected to the plate 16.

This plate 16 may be formed of thin bronze or steel or even plastic or plywood.

In some cases the support 10' as shown in FIG. 6 is provided with a bracket 35 with arms 36 secured to a nut 37 which may be adjusted by the screw 38 engaging the center portion of the plate 16" so as to positively adjust it with reference to the surface which it is to engage.

The particular shape of the bracket 11 or arms 14, 15 is not important and may be as illustrated at 28 in FIG. 7.

I claim:

1. A device for supporting arcuate surfaces comprising a flexible plate to shape itself generally to the surface engaged, a fixed supporting body, a bracket pivoted on said supporting body and arms pivoted on said bracket engaging said plate at a plurality of points for supporting said plate and permitting adjustment thereof to the surface engaged.

2. A device for supporting an arcuate surface comprising a flexible plate to shape itself generally to the surface engaged, a fixed supporting body and means engaging said support and a plurality of points on said plate and adjustable relative to said plate and support for following the shape of said plate as pressure of the supporting surface shapes the plate.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,515,435 11/ 1924- Glover 61-66 1,950,413 3/ 1934 Maxson et al. 61-66 2,240,723 5/1941 Stoehr 269-296 X 2,870,982 1/ 1959 Greene et a1 248-446 ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner. I. F. FOSS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING ARCUATE SURFACES COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE PLATE TO SHAPE ITSELF GENERALLY TO THE SURFACE ENGAGED, A FIXED SUPPORTING BODY, A BRACKET PIVOTED ON SAID SUPPORTING BODY AND ARMS PIVOTED ON SAID BRACKET ENGAGING SAID PLATE AT A PLURALITY OF POINTS FOR SUPPORTING SAID PLATE AND PERMITTING ADJUSTMENT THEREOF TO THE SURFACE ENGAGED. 